Henna is considered the most widely-used cosmetic of all time. Before Madonna made her henna tattoo-ed hands famous in one of her music videos, women, especially brides, from the Middle East and India are adorning their bodies with henna.
Henna is the Persian name of the shrub-like plant Lawsonia inermis. This plant is best known for its dried leaves which could produce dyes in shades varying from pale brown to dark reds. It can be used to dye the hair, skin, clothes and even fingernails.
In the Middle East, it is known that Arab women will not present their hand for henna if they are not speaking the truth. Henna also symbolizes good luck in Turkey, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
In India, a bride has her hands and feet painted on the day before the wedding with beautiful mehndi designs. Like any bride in other parts of the world, she is revered by the wedding party and henna is used as a means of idolizing her. She is not allowed to do any work before or after her wedding until all the stain has disappeared.
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Source:
Henna History. http://www.bodydeco.co.uk/html
